What Is A Blog And How It Will Make You Money

Simply put it, a blog is a website that is often updated with content called “blog posts”. Most often, the latest blog post will be shown at the top of the blog.

Someone who blogs is called a “blogger”. When a blogger updates his blog, he is “blogging”.

(Wow, I’m seriously not used to formal-ish writing. I’m not even good at grammar! :-))

Blogging has evolved A LOT since it first came out. Here are some types of blogs you might have heard of:

Personal blog

When it first came out, people used blogs to rant about what happened to their day, what they think of or in other words, they use it like a diary – a web diary.

Niche blog

From the word “niche market” or a very specific market, niche blogs cater specific markets. That’s why there are blogs out there specifically talking only about dogs, politics, cars, technology, etc.

Niche blogs are also the best way to make money online. We’re going to talk about this in the next post.

Splog

Since blogs are a big hit and it gets a lot of traffic, other web masters take advantage of it and make “spam” blogs called splogs. Splogs mostly contain content grabbed from other sites without their permission. Then they leverage it by posting ads.

In short, splogs suck.

Vlog/video blog

Videos – they’re a big hit right now. Well simply because, it’s easier than writing and you can express stuff better.

That’s why people have started these “vlogs” or video blogs. Instead of articles, they post videos.

Microblog

To make it short, a microblog is a blog with short blog posts.

Twitter and Tumblr. They are good examples of a microblog.

The Blogosphere

The blogosphere is the word most people use to cite the overall community of blogs. Say, “The blogosphere is growing rapidly” so when you say the “make money online blogosphere” it calls for the bloggers who are blogging about “make money online”

Why blog?

Easiest way to publish or put content online – No programming required!

From my personal experience, blogging is the easiest way to put content online. Almost all blogging softwares only requires you to fill up 2 forms, first for the blog post title and second for the blog post content – that’s it.

You can put almost anything on a blog

Articles, videos, audio, flash almost anything you could think of – remember it’s also a website.

You meet new people

This is possibly one of the best reasons why you should blog – you meet a lot of people.

If you have a niche blog, you’ll be able to meet bloggers who are in the same niche as you. Of course, you could turn those relationships to very profitable partnerships.

Quite frankly though, I’ve met a lot of wonderful people since I started blogging and I’m very thankful for that :)

Popularity

Most people blog for popularity alone. Now when you’re popular, it’ll be more easy to make money because you’ve got a following.

Do note that it’s optional to be popular. Because I know some people who just want the money but don’t want to be known. I understand that. But then again, I tell you, it’s more easy to make money when you’re popular.

Google LOVES blogs

Google LOVES websites that are often updated with content – and since with blogs, you can easily post content, Google loves em’

Therefore, it’ll be easier for blogs to battle out in Google’s search results.

Last but definitely not the least

(Since this is why you’re probably reading this post)

DRUMROLL PLEAAASEE…

You can make money.

How you’ll make money with a blog

The simple formula for making money on the internet is:

Traffic + Conversion = Money

(Sorry I didn’t make cool acronyms!)

Now since blogs are the easiest way to put content online, it can get you popular and Google loves em’ it’ll be easier for you to get Traffic – which is the hardest of the 2 in the formula.

The conversion part is how you “convert” those traffic into cash, which we will be discussing later after you’ve set up your blog.

Thanks for giving simple definitions to such words bloggers should know about. Sure hope I could get the same traffic as much as you do…and hopefully get in the front page of Google too..Well done, kiddo!!

Be specific about the articles you post on your blog, people like to read the topics which are unusual, that doesn’t mean it should sound boring, bring them unique pieces that will interest them and encourage them to read further. Once they enjoy your blog writings, they might like to refer to their friends and then it passes from friends of friends, so the cycle moves on and your reader base increases but the very basic criteria you have to fulfill is to first interest the first group of audience.

Was wondering, why is it so that so many people Struggle so badly to get themselves to take action and do what they need to do to get the results they want (ex. Make money online).. While others seem to do it rather naturally?

Quite frankly, I think nobody does it “naturally” – if you think the “gurus” does it naturally…

They don’t.

When they talk about it, it may sound easy because you’re seeing their big affiliate commissions but on the back end, there’s pure effort.

Although yes, almost all ways to make money online is easy (that’s why the internet is a cashcow) but most of it too takes time and sweat, that’s why some people are not getting the results they want because they quit too early.

Of course, the “work smart” attitude is always applicable. Some people seem to do it naturally because they have their own mentor who is already successful in the field.

Hi Carl,
I’m working on the Internet for quite a few years, but almost for other people. But now I’m starting my “own” blog and your article is a very good starting point. I’m looking forward for the next posts :-)

Thanks for categorizing the blogs, was surprised to see that there are splogs existing, now that explains why some of the people I know are surprised to have their blogs suddenly deleted (or their Adsense accounts suspended) because some of them are simply scraping their contents from other blogs or writers. These are pretty clear and simple. I suggest you posting another update soon, and yeah, I love most of the groups you’re joining on Facebook. ;)

I found your site while browsing the internet to find out about blogging.

I recently made an attempt to do affiliate marketing with a squiddoo lens, but I am finding it difficult
to get external traffic to that lens without sitting at my computer for hours on end. I’m thinking of starting a blog. I believe that I would be better off monetizing a blog rather than promote the lens.
My problem in starting a blog is that I am afraid of running of things to say.

In my opinion, one niche blog won’t bring you huge income unless you have huge follower or you blog something unique and stand out from the crowd, otherwise you won’t be able to earn well with a single blog. I believe that the big guy out there also own quite a large number of blogs and websites.

Carl I see you’re making good money because of your high ranking, you’re doing well and I heard that you have a pretty good mentor behind you, right? Congrats on the success!